SCHUYLERVILLE —The Saratoga County 250th Commission announced the 3rd Annual Women in War Symposium will be held on May 4 from 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Old Saratoga American Legion Post, 6 Clancy St. in Schuylerville. As an enhancement to the Symposium, a bus tour of historic sites will be offered May 5.
General registration for the symposium is $130 and includes a light breakfast and buffet lunch. The guided bus tour is $75 and includes a box lunch.Those interested can register for both the symposium and tour or just one event by visiting the Saratoga250 website, www.saratoga250.com/events/annual-women-in-war-symposium.
The Women in War Symposium features dynamic speakers who will present on topics related to the roles women played during the American Revolution. Whether patriot or loyalist, wealthy or impoverished, females were deeply affected by the war in all aspects of their lives. Additionally, exhibitors, book-signings, augmented reality demonstrations and more will be on display throughout the day.
Departing from Saratoga National Historical Park Visitor Center, Sunday’s event will be a curated tour with expert guide Pat Niles. The tour will take place from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., highlighting several lesser-known stories of women in the Saratoga Campaign.
SPEAKERS: Christine T. Valosin: Revolutionary War Women at Schuyler’s Saratoga Estate, 1775 – 1783; Friederike Baer: With the Battle of Saratoga our Misfortunes Began, Friederike Riedesel in the War for American Independence; Vincent Albert Carretta: Phillis Wheatley Peters on War and Peace; Elizabeth Mauer: Martha Washington Goes to Camp; Holly A. Mayer: Taking Fire: Margaret Corbin at Fort Washington; Bruce M. Venter: Head of Faculty and Master of Ceremonies.
America’s Turning Point is a multi-year celebration of Saratoga County’s pivotal role in the American Revolution culminating in 2027 with the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga. To register or for more information, visit www.Saratoga250.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — City Mayor John Safford on April 16 proclaimed Hayden Shields and Sophie O’Donnell Day, and honored the Saratoga Springs High School seniors with the keys to the city for saving a life of a car accident victim one year ago in Saratoga Springs.
On the afternoon of April 13, 2023, Shields and O’Donnell were driving south on West Avenue when another car traveling in the opposite direction suddenly swerved into their path and crashed into a utility pole.
“Fortunately Mr. Shields and Ms. O’Donnell suffered no injuries, and they might have chosen at that moment to drive on just as many other nearby vehicles were doing. They chose instead to do something very different,” reads the proclamation. “They parked their vehicle, dialed 911 to immediately report the accident, and then rushed to the scene of the accident to see if there was anything they could do to help.”
Following the reading of the proclamation, Shields and O’Donnell received a standing ovation at City Hall.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — City Mayor John Safford on April 16 proclaimed Hayden Shields and Sophie O’Donnell Day, and honored the Saratoga Springs High School seniors with the keys to the city for saving a life of a car accident victim one year ago in Saratoga Springs.
On the afternoon of April 13, 2023, Shields and O’Donnell were driving south on West Avenue when another car traveling in the opposite direction suddenly swerved into their path and crashed into a utility pole.
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“Fortunately Mr. Shields and Ms. O’Donnell suffered no injuries, and they might have chosen at that moment to drive on just as many other nearby vehicles were doing. They chose instead to do something very different,” reads the proclamation. “They parked their vehicle, dialed 911 to immediately report the accident, and then rushed to the scene of the accident to see if there was anything they could do to help.”
Following the reading of the proclamation, Shields and O’Donnell received a standing ovation at City Hall.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Wesley Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Wesley Community in Saratoga Springs, will host its annual gala at the Lodge at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Saturday, May 11 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Proceeds from this year’s Party Under the Palms will support Wesley Health Care Center’s Life Enrichment Program, which provides meaningful social and therapeutic activities for Wesley residents.
Auction items will include a six-person reserved picnic table, with admission, for the sold-out Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 8 as well as for Friday, June 7, courtesy of The New York Racing Association, Inc. The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will be held at historic Saratoga Race Course for the first time ever.
Founded in 1972, The Wesley Community was established as a long-term senior care community.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —LifeWorks Community Action presents the 34th Annual In Bloom Saratoga: Petals, Plates & Pours Gala May 24 at Universal Preservation Hall.
The evening of elegance, live entertainment and community spirit will be hosted by NewsChannel 13 anchor Mark Mulholland.
LifeWorks will present an evening featuring live music by local artists Garland Nelson and Soul Session, a dinner crafted by Wandering Food Dude and a selection of cider, beer and wine. The event begins at 6 p.m.
LifeWorks Community Action, established in 1965, has stood as a beacon of hope for the underprivileged in Saratoga County and the Northern Capital Region. The organization’s efforts have alleviated poverty and provided critical support in various facets such as food security, utility aid, childcare, and overcoming language barriers. Tens of thousands of individuals and families have navigated through tough times with the aid of LifeWorks, embarking on paths towards economic security.
Tickets are $100 per person for general admission and $75 for young professionals aged 35 years and under. VIP Admission is also available.
LAKE GEORGE — Local Revolutionary War hero General Peter Gansevoort, who commanded Fort George at Lake George during the crucial year of 1776 and led a successful defense of Fort Stanwix in central New York the following year to help pave the way for the Continental Army’s ultimate defeat of General Burgoyne at Saratoga, will be the subject of the presentation “Peter Gansevoort: A Hero and His Legacy”, on Saturday, April 27 at the Holiday Inn Resort Lake George, beginning at 11 a.m.
The featured speaker will be historian Michael P. Barrett, Vice President of the Board of Trustees for Albany Rural Cemetery, where General Gansevoort is buried.
The program is sponsored by the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance and is free to the public. Attendees are asked to register prior the event at info@lakegeorgebattlefield.org with the number of seats needed.
A member of the Albany County militia as the American Revolution got underway, Peter Gansevoort’s Dutch family connections propelled General Philip Schuyler to commission him in the Continental Army. Gansevoort participated in the 1775-76 invasion of Quebec prior to serving at Fort George. In 1777, he was the Colonel commanding Fort Stanwix who successfully defeated Burgoyne’s western flanking movement, greatly aiding the Continental forces’ ultimate success at the Battles of Saratoga.
For those who can’t attend on April 27, the presentation will be recorded and made available afterward on the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/@LakeGeorgeBattlefield.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga Jewish Community Arts, supported by a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Northeastern NY and sponsored by Temple Sinai of Saratoga Springs, presents a panel discussion of the 2015 documentary Colliding Dreams by American filmmakers Joseph Dorman and Oren Rudavsky on April 28 at 7 pm on Zoom.
Few ideas in the modern era have had as much impact on the world as Zionism. Colliding Dreams recounts the movement’s dramatic history, one of the most controversial and urgently relevant political ideologies of today.
“What does the future hold – what’s the solution?” SAID Phyllis Wang, Coordinator of SJCA, in a statement “We hear all the time, ‘it’s complicated.’ That perspective shows an inciteful awareness of the countless interlocking pieces in this history — and offers little guidance or a route to resolution.”
Colliding Dreams can be viewed free of charge on Kanopy (registration with a library card required). It can also be rented from Apple, Google Play and You Tube.
The panel discussion will be held on Zoom on April 28 at 7 p.m. To register go to the SJCA Home Page www.saratogajewishculturalfestival.org.
Beneath his tricorn hat, a Continental Army soldier (IRL Saratoga Town Historian Sean Kelleher) eyes the Spirit of Life statue in Congress Park during premiere screening of the Revolutionary Road Trip series at UPH in Saratoga Springs on April 22, 2024. Photo by Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos
SARATOGA SPRINGS — A 21st century TV episode showcasing events that occurred in 18th century Saratoga had its local screening premiere this week in a 19th century hall in Saratoga Springs.
Last September, “Travels With Darley” producer and host Darley Newman visited Saratoga County with a film crew for a busy five-day zag through the county capturing historic locales and contemporary venues alike. The completed project, presented as a 30-minute episode of the Revolutionary Road Trips series, was showcased during a local premiere at Universal Preservation Hall April 22.
The episode highlights area historic sites like the Saratoga National Historical Park, Congress and High Rock parks and post-Saratoga battle venues in the villages of Schuylerville and Victory, among others, as well as paying visit to numerous stores, breweries, shops, eateries and hotels in and around Saratoga Springs.
“Stories of triumph and sacrifice, of compassion and betrayal that are part of a journey to create a nation,” Lauren Roberts – Saratoga County Historian and Chair of the Saratoga County 250th Commission, told the large crowd assembled at UPH to view the screening.
In the fall of 1777, two battles took place in Saratoga that resulted in the surrender of the British army and is referred to by historians as a turning point in the Revolutionary War, as it convinced France to ally with the United States and aiding in the eventual victory over the British.
The British surrender at Saratoga has been immortalized in a painting by John Trumbull that hangs in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and in 2015, the U.S. Mint issued a “Saratoga” coin to represent New York state in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program. The coin depicts a close-up of the moment British Gen. John Burgoyne surrendered his sword to Gen. Horatio Gates alongside an inscription that reads: Saratoga.
“The 250th anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga gives us a stage to tell our stories in a new way that breathes life into history,” Roberts said. The region will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the victory in a series of events leading up to, during, and after the 250th anniversary in 2027.
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In 2022, Saratoga County officials unveiled the official brand “America’s Turning Point” to commemorate the anniversary of the Revolutionary War Era events that happened in Saratoga County, and the county Board of Supervisors committed $150,000 in seed money to a newly formed Saratoga County 250th American Revolution Commission to help advance a mission of promoting education, historic preservation and heritage tourism.
Roberts serves as chair of the 13-member Saratoga 250 commission which comes up with programming ideas and commemorations, she explained. Campaign for Saratoga 250 Inc., a separate non-profit group, is charged with locating funding and grants to support the programming.
This week’s screening at UPH saw numerous county officials, community members and business leaders in attendance. In addition to commentary provided by Roberts, introductory remarks were offered by Board of Supervisors Chairman Phil Barrett, Adirondack Trust Company President and CEO Charles Wait, Jr, and Saratoga Arms proprietor Amy Smith.
“It’s great to be here for the premiere showcase of ‘Travels with Darley’ and to be able to better share with the general public the golden moment this is,” Congressman Paul Tonko told the audience. “As we approach our 250th anniversary, let’s all celebrate together knowing the sense of place that we call home is indeed a powerful one – deepened by its stake in history, heritage and strategy that enabled us to be the nation we are. It created that infancy walk of a greater nation charged by its framers to always search for a more perfect union.”
While the two Battles at Saratoga and the British surrender took place in 1777 with its 250th anniversary to be celebrated in 2027, the Commission will extend to 2033, marking the anniversary of the end of the American Revolution. “After the Battles of Saratoga we still have involvement: in 1780 there was a rain on Middletown Road in the town of Ballston, and there are actually soldiers in Saratoga until the end of the war in 1783,” Roberts said.
Signature annual events include the springtime Women In War Symposium and the Siege Encampment weekend in the fall. Currently in process are educator workshops that will provide teaching tools for K-12 students, interpretive exhibitions that will be housed separate from the battlefield, including using technology to showcase underrepresented stories in places like Schuylerville.
Travels With Darley Revolutionary Road Trip series episode featuring Saratoga is anticipated to broadcast on WMHT-TV regionally and PBS stations across the country in June. Viewers with access to on-demand video streaming apps such as Tubi may be able to currently view the episode.
